I’ve been a fan of Nothing since day one. I love their unique design and how they’ve pushed boundaries in the past. But with the Phone (3), I’m honestly disappointed — and I want to explain why.
First, this design has apparently been sitting for nearly two years. It was originally meant for the Phone (2) or Phone (3). But just because a design has been kept for a while doesn’t automatically make it good — sometimes it just means it was left behind for a reason.
Second, at £800, the Phone (3) is priced like a flagship. So naturally, it gets compared to devices like the Samsung S25, iPhone, and OnePlus 13 — all offering stronger specs, better displays, and better value. If you want a clean UI and flagship-level performance, something like the OnePlus 13 feels like a smarter buy.
Third, the new dot matrix system on the back tries to act like a second screen — it shows the time, a stopwatch, and a few interactive features. But other phones have already done secondary displays, and done them better — with full color, higher resolution, and real utility.
The dot system is just dots. You can’t really use it for selfies. It doesn’t react to music like the Glyph lights did. And while it may show a timer or some basic animations, it just doesn’t feel premium. It feels underwhelming, especially when the Glyph interface on the Phone (2) had a real personality.
Also, when it comes to notifications, nothing really changed. Both the Glyph and dot systems just tell you that there’s a notification — but to actually see what it is, you still have to turn on the screen. So it doesn’t solve that problem or bring anything truly new to the table.
One of the coolest things about the original Glyph interface was how it reacted to calls — unique sound patterns and light animations that actually felt alive and useful. That was innovative. The dot system feels like a step back in comparison.
What’s more disappointing is the shift in tone from Nothing as a company. They used to listen closely to the community and openly acknowledge the competition. That humility was refreshing. It helped them grow. But lately, they’ve come across like they see themselves above the competition — and while confidence is fine, it feels like they’ve stopped listening in the same way.
The reason Nothing built such a loyal following is because they were different. They weren’t just making another phone — they were trying to change how we interact with our devices. One of their key ideas was to reduce screen time, not just add another flashy feature. The Glyph interface supported that. The dot system, on the other hand, feels like it’s asking for attention without delivering anything meaningful in return.
If they had found a way to combine the Glyph system with the dot display, maybe this could’ve worked. But on its own, it doesn’t feel finished — and it doesn’t feel like a step forward for the brand.
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Here’s how I personally rank Nothing’s recent phones by design:
1. Phone (2) — still feels like a true flagship
2. Phone (3a / 3a Pro) — clean and balanced
3. Phone (3) — underwhelming for the price
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I understand innovation isn’t easy, and Nothing has brought some genuinely fresh ideas to the table. I’m still rooting for them to keep pushing and listening — because they have the potential to shake up the market in ways no other brand is trying to. I just hope future releases bring back the magic that made Nothing stand out in the first place.
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This isn’t hate — just honest feedback from someone who really believed in what they were building. I hope they find their way back to that vision
